Visual Tool System

ABSTRACT

A system is disclosed for a tool identification method comprising a movable metal storage cabinet and tool profiles positioned the side of a storage cabinet wherein said tool profiles detail the tool contents of the drawers of said storage cabinet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a unique visual information system including a movable cabinet for storing and protecting tools for industrial use. More particularly, the invention relates to storage and ready use of (press brakes and press brake) tools and a visual system for rapidly identifying (press brake) the tools held in a storage cabinet for ready use of the stored tools to reduce machine set up time as needed to reduce the cost of identifying and changing (press brake) tools as required.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For example, press brake sheet metal presses are commonly equipped with a lower table and an upper table, one of which is vertically movable toward the other table. Forming tools are mounted on the tables so that when the tables are brought together, the sheet metal work piece between the forming tables is bent into a desired shape. It is common for the upper table to use a male forming die which has a deforming surface of a desired shape such as a right angle and for the lower table to have an appropriately shaped and aligned die so that when the two dies are brought together a sheet metal work piece between the forming tools is formed into a desired bent shape. The forming tools and dies commonly are horizontally elongated so that work pieces of various widths can be accommodated.

It is often necessary to identify and exchange forming tools and dies when a different bending operation is to be performed. The dies, commonly resting on the bottom table of a press brake are readily removed and exchanged for others. The forming tools usually mounted to the upper table also are usually easily replaced. It is essential that the male forming die of the upper table appropriately match the appropriately shaped die of the bottom table to obtain an appropriate bent shape of the sheet metalwork piece. Visual inspection of the two dies during the process of exchange of the two dies aids in the appropriate matching of the two dies.

In more detail, the instant invention comprises a movable cabinet containing (press brake) tools to be identified and exchanged on a work station or other device. In the above example, press brake tools are already in place in a sheet metal press and a brake metal forming press as required to produce a change in the sheet metal product of the press.

The following example will illustrate the instant invention in more detail. A movable cabinet of four support swivel wheels contains four drawers containing press brake tools within each drawer. The press brake tools are supported within each drawer by required support structures. The number of press brake tools in each drawer is according to space available and number of tools to be stored. On the outer metal side of the movable cabinet, a sheet of equal size is attached to the side of the cabinet with the four drawers. The attached sheet provides a visual means representing the contents of the four drawers in the cabinet.

The sheet provides for the full scale visual aid of each drawer contents. The cabinet has four levels of drawers which are repeated across the width of the cabinet, each drawer containing press brake metal forming tools.

As noted above, a sheet which can be made of metal, plastic, or other material that is flat, firm, and can be written on is attached to the outer side of the cabinet. The sheet is attached to one side of the outer side of the cabinet. The sheet has a depiction of the drawers, and each visual depiction of the drawer, lines up with a drawer within the cabinet. The sheet has a depiction of each storage compartment of each drawer. The sheet contains thereon a pictorial representation of the (press brake) tools contained within each storage compartment said drawers.

Each sheet as noted may comprise a plastic sheet, a cardboard sheet, or a metal sheet of equal size to the dimension of the side of the cabinet. The sheet carries on its surface at least one pictorial representation of the contents of each drawer. The sheet replicates visually the contents of the several drawers contained in the cabinet across the width of the cabinet.

Several methods of providing a sheet of material upon which is mounted a replica for visual representations of the contents of the individual drawers containing (press brake) tools can be used. The visual tool identification means of the contents of the multiple drawers across the width of the cabinet is attached to said sheet. The sheet can be attached to an underlying sheet support layer, or plurality of sheet support layers, or directly attached to the side of the cabinet. Differing weights of material of the sheet material can be used. The depiction of the individual tools contained in the movable storage drawers can be in full color and of actual size, or it can be a cross-section of the tool representing its dimensions or a percentage thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 3,760,489 to Griffith, “Tool Storage and Identification System” relates to tool storage and identifying means including an improved storage magazine to rotate about a horizontal support axis and provided with improved sockets adapter to receive a combination of rearwardly coded tools.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,470 to Juengel, “Tool Identification System” identifies tools used in an automatic machine tool system. A transponder is mounted to each tool and interrogated by a transceiver to identify the tool.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,982,627 to Johnson, “Color Coded Tools” uses a color coded tool identification method to indicate size of hand tools and small cutting tools.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,491 to Fierek, “Tool Carrier Organizer” relates to a soft fabric carrier organized in the form of a receptacle comprising several partitions formed on the outside surface of the organizer.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,227 to Vogel, “Visual Coding System for Tool Size” codes tools as to their size, using two sets of different colored bands on the surface of the tool.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,668,751 to Henke, “System and Method for Identifying Hand Tools” provides a color-coded identification system for identifying a hand tool. A chart defines operating characteristics of the hand tool by a group of colors.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,132,926 to Vaseloff, “Smart Tray System and Method for Restaurant Inventory Management” includes a plurality of information tags and communication devices that communicate with the tags.

U.S. Pat. No. 7,338,139 to Peter, “Cabinet Apparatus for Kitchen Utensils and Appliances” includes a cabinet apparatus for efficient organization storage and use of kitchen appliances and utensils in a relatively small space.

Aspects of the instant invention are taught in the prior art, i.e. a tool storage and identification system, a module or transponder mounted to the tool and interrogated by a transceiver to identify tools, a color coded system is used to identify the tools instantly; a system of marking tools and coding tools by color dots to indicate tool size and using tags to identify process steps and inventory in process. The present invention is more cost effective, and more efficient. The identification of the exact tool and the tool's dimensions and its exact location saves time to find and identify the tool. Time is also saved in the management and set-up of any operation. The use of visual representations of tools ready for use specifically noting their locations within a specific drawer of a cabinet has not been previously disclosed in the prior art. Further, the unique means of presenting the visual material has not been previously disclosed in the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a press brake tool cabinet and sheet with identifying means in accordance with certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a press brake tool cabinet and the sheet with tool (press brake) visual representations, including the (press brake) tool storage within a storage compartment of the drawer of the cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2A is an exploded view of the visual means for tool profiles attached to a specific location on the sheet indicating its specific location within a storage compartment of a specific drawer within the cabinet.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the tool visual representation attached to the sheet.

FIG. 3A is an exploded view showing the tool visual representation attached to the sheet by an attachment means, in this case a magnet.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the tool visual representation attached to the sheet by an alternative attachment means.

FIG. 4A is an exploded view showing the tool visual representation attached to the sheet by an alternative means, in this case Velcro™.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a movable storage cabinet 10 of the invention, with movable support wheels (not shown) and a sheet 20 attached on one side of the movable storage cabinet 10 with the visual depiction of the tools on the sheet brought into horizontal alignment with the cabinet. As seen, in FIGS. 1 and 2, the drawers are in alignment with the depiction of the drawers on the sheet. The contents of a specific drawer, and the specific location of specific tools in each drawer is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and detailed in FIG. 2A. An exploded view, of the pictorial representations of the (press tooling) tools stored in each drawer, as attached to the sheet 20, is shown in FIG. 2A. FIG. 3 is a side view of the visual tool identification means 501 attached to the sheet 20. FIG. 3A shows how the visual tool identification means 501 is connected to the sheet 20. The visual tool identification means is attached to the sheet by an attachment means in this case a magnet. FIG. 4 is a side view of the visual tool identification means 501 with an alternative attachment means, Velcro™, attached to the sheet 20. FIG. 4A shows how the visual tool identification means with an alternate attachment means, Velcro™, is attached to the sheet. FIG. 2A further illustrates the location of the tool, in a specified storage compartment of cabinet drawer, in the cabinet as shown on sheet 20.

The sheet 20 is attached to the side of the movable storage cabinet 10. A bolt, a screw, a hinge, adhesive, Velcro™, a magnet, or other means of attachment can be used to attach the sheet to the side of the cabinet. The visual tool identification means 501 is attached to the sheet 20. The visual tool identification means is attached to the sheet by an attachment means. An attachment means which is preferably a magnet attached to the back of the visual tool identification means 501 attaches the visual identification means 501 to the correct location on the sheet 20. The visual identification means 501 with an attachment means is attached to the sheet 20 in a specific location indicating the specific storage compartment of a specific cabinet drawer containing the press brake tool, and providing a full pictorial representation of the tool and its location on the side of the cabinet.

DETAILS OF THE INVENTION

In detail, the instant invention relates to a movable storage cabinet for (press brake) tools of several sizes and uses. A visual representation of the (press brake) tool within each storage compartment of each drawer is presented upon the surface of a sheet attached to the side of the storage cabinet. Each visual representation of the tool stored within the compartment comprises a tool profile that provides a cross sectional view of the tool in the cabinet.

Tool cabinets are preferred over open shelving for storing and retaining (press brake) tools because the cabinets more adequately protect the tools from dust and keep the tools clean. However, the cabinets also hide the tools from plain view, and help prevent theft of the tools by keeping the tools hidden and locked in the cabinet or drawer if desired. The tools are then not only hidden from plain view but are stored away and locked if desired.

It is difficult for a (press brake) operator or other craftsman to remember where a (press brake) tool is located in a tooling storage cabinet when the operator needs it. Opening the storage drawer and simply looking for the proper tool takes time. The instant invention provides a visual means which allows the (press) operator or craftsman to locate the required tool quickly. This visual means reduces machine setup time and saves money.

The visual means is applied to the exterior side of the (press brake) tool cabinet. The individual tool profiles are located on the outer surface of the sheet attached to the side of the tool cabinet. The sheet is affixed to the outer side of the cabinet by an attachment means. The attachment means may be a suitable adhesive, bolts, screws, or other mechanism. The visual tool identification means is attached to the sheet by Velcro™, mechanical devices, or in the case of a magnetic surface by magnets, which then provides the visual depiction of the tool's location.

The sheet is of suitable size and is attached to an exterior side of the cabinet.

The visual means can be placed anywhere on the cabinet, including the front of the cabinet if panels are used. The visual means is lined horizontally with each drawer it depicts on the cabinet. The visual means then provides a representation for each drawer in the cabinet. The scale of the tool profiles can be larger or smaller than a full size replica of the (press brake) tool within the cabinet drawer.

The tool profiles placed on the sheet are of the same order as the (press brake) tools placed in each storage compartment in each drawer. If the (press brake) tools are moved to another drawer, the tool profile or visual tool identification means is moved to a new location representing the change in the tool's location on the sheet, and in the cabinet.

The sheet is a flat surface to which the tool profiles or visual tool identification means are attached. The sheet represents the contents of the cabinet. The tool profiles or visual tool identification means are cross sectional views of a tool. The tool profiles or visual tool identification means can be full size representations, full size representations of cross sectional representations of a tool, cross sectional representations, or a percentage of the dimensions of the tool. These profiles are instantly recognizable to someone skilled in the art, in this example, sheet framing. They also may be labeled with the tool manufacturer's tool number and size. If the tool profiles or visual tool identification means are magnetic, the tool profiles or visual tool identification means will adhere to a steel metal sheet. If Velcro™ is used, the hook and loop on the back of the tool profile or visual tool identification means will be aligned with the corresponding compartment as represented on the sheet, and the sheet will have Velcro™ patches in each compartment, so the visual means will depict the exact location of the tool.

Previously, it was common to place individual labels on the front of the tool cabinet drawers to identify the drawer contents. Due to size restrictions, there often was a lack of detailed data on the labels. Also, the labels were often difficult to change if the labels were mounted on the cabinet.

In contrast, the instant invention provides cross sectional views of the tools. As noted, these profiles are instantly recognizable by someone skilled in the art. Tool cabinets are used for storing (press brake) tools because they protect the tools and keep them clean. The tool cabinet also hides the tools from plain view. It is difficult for a (press brake machine) operator or craftsman to remember where a tool is located in a tool cabinet when the operator needs it. The instant invention provides a visual means, which helps the operator or craftsman locate the tool quickly.

The instant invention accordingly comprises:

-   -   a) a (press brake tool) cabinet in size, sufficient to contain         at least several drawers containing compartments of sizes         sufficient to contain removable (press brake tooling) tools,         wherein each cabinet drawer is represented on a sheet displaying         the size of each cabinet drawer, its contents, where an         identification means detailing the contents of the drawer is         depicted.     -   b) an identification means affixed to said sheet comprising a         positioning means of tools within said drawer (of said press         brake tool) therein.

The identification and positioning means comprise tool profiles, or visual tool identification means, such as cross-sectional views of the (press brake tooling) tools contained within each drawer and each drawer positioned as stored within the cabinet.

Example

Press brake tooling cabinets have been manufactured by the inventor. During the course of the manufacturing process, the press brake tools were stored in the manufactured cabinets as a manufacturing convenience to protect the tools and provide a clean environment for the tools being used. When the press brake tools were stored in the newly manufactured cabinets, it was noted it was difficult to remember where a particular press brake tool was located. Opening all of the drawers to look for the specific tool took too much time. The use of a pictorial visual means attached to the cabinet as envisioned by the inventor was an instant solution to the problem. The placement of the visual means mounted on the side of the cabinet where each drawer was represented by its contents containing the press brake tooling allowed the press brake machine operator to locate the required tools quickly without the loss of machine time.

A support sheet can be provided for the main sheet which is used as the visual support means. The visual means is mounted to the side of the press brake tool cabinet. Profile views of the several tools in each cabinet drawer are attached to the surface of the sheet. The sheet is mounted on the side of the cabinet to represent contents of each drawer contained within the cabinet. The sheet with the attached tool profiles provides a cross sectional view of the press brake tool within each cabinet drawer. If a tool location is changed, the tool profile is changed to the new location on the sheet. 

1. A cabinet system for storing and positioning tools and means to identify tools contained within the cabinet system comprising: a. A movable metal storage cabinet of size sufficient to contain one or more storage compartments for tools in removable drawers of size and equipment contained therein to adequately support therein tools for specific uses, wherein the outer metal side of said cabinet has affixed a visual means that depict contents of one or more drawers. b. A visual means comprising tool profiles or visual tool identification means of tools contained in one or more drawers wherein said tool profiles are mountable on said sheet affixed to the outer metal side of said storage cabinet and represent tools contained in said storage compartments of said drawers of said cabinet.
 2. The tool profiles or visual identification means of claim 1 wherein the tool profiles are selected from cross sectional views of the tools and the tool profiles are a larger or smaller scale of the tool profiles, wherein, each tool profile or visual tool identification means is changed to the new location on the sheet when the tool location has changed.
 3. A sheet support layer or a plurality of sheet support layers affixed on the outer side of said cabinet wherein said sheet support layer or plurality of sheet support layers is affixed or attached to said outer metal side of said cabinet, and said sheet support sheet layer is attached by at least one attachment means to a sheet.
 4. The sheet support layer or plurality of sheet support layers of claim 3 affixed to an outer metal side of said cabinet wherein said sheet support sheet layer provides support for said sheet, said sheet supporting a visual means for tool profiles of tools contained in the cabinet drawers of said cabinet.
 5. The sheet support layer of claim 3 affixed to the outer side of said cabinet wherein said sheet support layer is affixed to said outer side of said cabinet by at least one attachment means for said sheet support layer where the attachment means is a hinge, a bolt, a screw, adhesive, or mechanical device.
 6. A cabinet system for storing and positioning tools and means to identify tools contained within the cabinet comprising: a. A movable storage cabinet of size sufficient to contain one or more removable drawers for tools of size and equipment contained therein to adequately support therein tools for specific uses, wherein the outer side of said cabinet has affixed thereto a sheet, or plurality of sheet support layers of suitable material for placement of a sheet thereon to provide a visual means that depict contents of one or more drawers. b. A visual means comprising tool profiles of tools contained in one or more drawers to support said tools wherein said tool profiles or visual tool identification means are mountable on said sheet and represent tools contained in said drawers of said storage cabinet.
 7. The tool profiles of claim 6 wherein the tool profiles are selected from cross sectional views of the tools and the tool profiles are larger or of smaller scale then the tools, wherein each tool profile is changed to the new location on the sheet when the tool location has changed.
 8. The cabinet system of claim 6, wherein said visual means comprises a sheet.
 9. The sheet support layer of claim 6 affixed to the outer side of said cabinet wherein said layer is affixed to said outer side by at least one attachment means for said sheet support layer.
 10. The sheet support layer of claim 6 affixed to an outer side of said cabinet wherein said sheet support layer comprises a support sheet layer for a sheet for supporting tool profiles or visual identification means of tools contained in at least one cabinet drawer of said cabinet.
 11. The sheet support layer of claim 6 affixed to an outer side of said cabinet wherein said sheet support layer is affixed to said outer side of said cabinet by at least one attachment means where the attachment means is a hinge, a bolt, a screw, or an adhesive.
 12. A cabinet system for storing and positioning tools and means to identify tools contained within the cabinet system comprising a movable metal storage cabinet of size sufficient to contain one or more storage compartments for tools in removable drawers of size and equipment contained therein to adequately support therein tools for specific uses, wherein said cabinet has affixed a visual means that depict contents of one or more drawers.
 13. The cabinet system of claim 12, where a visual means comprising tool profiles or visual tool identification means of tools contained in one or more drawers of said cabinet wherein said tool profiles are mountable on said sheet affixed to said storage cabinet and represent tools contained in said storage compartments of said drawers of said cabinet.
 14. The tool profiles or visual identification means of claim 12 wherein the tool profiles are selected from cross sectional views of the tools and the tool profiles are a larger or smaller scale of the tool profiles, wherein, each tool profile or visual tool identification means is changed to the new location on the sheet when the tool location has changed.
 15. The cabinet system of claim 12, wherein said visual means comprises a sheet.
 16. The cabinet system of claim 12, wherein said visual means is supported by a sheet support layer. 